Open Seat on Richmond Co. Board of Education

September 27, 2005There’s an open seat on the Richmond County School Board and three people want to fill it. Johnny Hatney’s qualified to run for the Augusta Commission, and now someone has to fill the remainder of his term for super district 9. News 12 sits down with two of the candidates and a mother, who hopes they can make a difference.

Balancing work and making phone calls to the Richmond County Board of Education about her son’s bus route, Brandie Sterling’s gotten good at not getting answers.

“So, I had to physically go down to the Board of Education and stand there in the hallway and say somebody’s gonna talk to me,” Sterling said.

Brandie doesn’t understand why it went so far. But a vacancy on the school board could mean change if she needs to contact them in the future.

“So, if a parent chooses to come directly to the superintendent’s office or try to reach a board member, they have that option. They ought to be available and my commitment to the public is I will be available to hear their concerns,” A.K. Hasan.

“I will not neglect them by no means. I’m there for them and to be a spokesman in the boardroom,” said Robert Anderson.

A spokesman to ensure safety for children, Reverend Robert Anderson is a Baptist minister running for super district 9.

His opponent, A.K. Hasan, is a past school board president. Both agree communication is a big issue among others.

“I would like to attract quality teachers to Augusta-Richmond County and promote vocational education in public school,” said Anderson.

Anderson also agrees with panic buttons and bus monitors, both issues addressed by the current members. Hasan says he’d like to change a new policy started this fall, possible jail time for parents and students with too many unexcused absences.

“I think the idea of locking up parents or incarcerating parents for children misbehaving is sort of a misnomer,” said Hasan.

Brandie says too many false promises in the past. She’s just hoping these candidates will follow through.

“Prove it, because I should be able to call Larke’s office and get a response from him and I didn’t,” Brandie said.

The election will be November 8. Robert Howard, Assistant Director of Augusta Parks and Recreation, is the other candidate running. He did not return our calls.

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